Interview: Ne-Yo Talks Remixing 'Suit & Tie,' Working On New Material With Beyoncé and Jay-Z

When chart-topping singer/songwriter Ne-Yo isn’t headlining around the globe, the daddy of two always makes time to re-visit his second home, the studio. Remaining true to his R&B roots, the "Let Me Love You" singer has been keeping busy, collaborating with music's beloved while mentoring a new crop of talented hopefuls.

His latest endeavor includes a remastered version of Ciara’s “Body Party,” where he brings an even more sensual atmosphere to the soirée.

“Ciara is a friend and I know a few of the people that work at her label. I made sure that I got the blessing from her first before I did it,” he tells VIBE. “They sent me the instrumental and I did what I did. It’s a song that I really like from her so I just decided to throw the gentleman’s touch on it.”

When it comes to double takes, the dapper crooner is more prone to crafting originals but when asked if he considered touching Justin Timberlake's "Suit & Tie" given his affinity for black tie ensembles, Ne-Yo said hopping on the feel-good track crossed his mind.

“I didn’t want people to feel like I was taking a jab at him or nothing like that, but when the song came out, a lot of people came at me like, ‘Suit and Tie? Okay Justin is trying to jump in your lane,'" he said. "I’m not the first person to wear a suit and tie. C’mon y’all, it doesn’t have to be that.” He mentions that it would have been a different story if the pair did the song together. "I wouldn’t take it upon myself to take the liberty," he adds. "I wouldn’t do that.”

Still, the seasoned hit-maker continues to juggle fedoras with his A&R position at Universal Motown Records and spearheading his Compound University label. He says that his first signee Soona Rele, a singer/songwriter from the United Kingdom, is a fusion of Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys and Weeknd. “I’ve been really focusing on making sure her stuff is all the way right as well,” he said about his discovery.

Despite his tight schedule, Ne-Yo has also managed to squeeze in some time with hip-hop's first couple, Jay-Z and Beyoncé, separately. While he's tight-lipped about the "Grown Woman" singer's upcoming project, he says she is preparing something that “she’s not going to put it out until it’s all the way right.”

He also hinted at a possible record with Bey's other half, who is piecing together his forthcoming album Magna Carta Holy Grail, due July 4.

"I did a session for Jay-Z. He’s back in the studio putting some stuff together," he said. "I don’t know if I’m going to make the cut but I put some hooks together. We’ll see what happens."

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Just weeks after Megan Thee Stallion was seen with Jay-Z in New York, the breakout Houston rapper has announced her affiliation with Roc Nation.

"I would like to announce that I am officially apart of the @rocnation fam," she said Friday (Sept. 13) with a photo of her and Mr. Carter. "The grind don’t stop!" The rapper has had quite the summer thanks to the release of her recent project, Fever along with monster singles "Hot Girl Summer" with Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign as well as "Cash Shit" with DaBaby.

In addition to her climb to the Billboard charts (both singles made the Hot 100 chart), the rapper made a splash at New York Fashion Week with hangouts with Anna Wintour and a performance at Rihanna's Diamond Ball.

Megan sent subtle hints with her signing to Roc Nation. After all, she drives the boat with D'usse and was recently seen with Jay-Z at Puma's 5th Avenue opening in August.

WTF pic.twitter.com/TRzV32FPRS

— jhus (@likemylambo) August 30, 2019

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I would like to announce that I am officially apart of the @rocnation fam!!! The grind don’t stop ! #realhotgirlshit

Felicity Huffman was sentenced Friday afternoon (Sept. 13) to 14 days in prison, CNN reports. Judge Indira Talwani also tacked a $30,000 fine and 250 hours of community service onto Huffman's sentence. Additionally, she faces one year of supervised release.

“I am deeply ashamed of what I have done,” Huffman reportedly said to the judge. “At the end of the day I had a choice to make. I could have said 'no.'”

The 56-year-old also shared a conversation she had with her daughter concerning the college admission scandal. Huffman revealed that her daughter said, “I don’t know who you are anymore mom? Why didn’t you think I could do it on my own?” Huffman's child with actor William H. Macy has a learning disability, which prompted Huffman to engage in the scam in an effort to allot more time for her to take the SATs.

“I felt an urgency which built to a sense of panic that there was this huge obstacle in the way that needed to be fixed for my daughter’s sake,” she wrote in a previous statement. “As warped as this sounds now, I honestly began to feel that maybe I would be a bad mother if I didn’t do what Mr. Singer was suggesting.”

Huffman will report to prison in six weeks. In April 2019, the actress pled guilty to paying $15,000 to William "Rick" Singer to increase her daughter's SAT scores.

Friday (Sept. 13) marks the 25th anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.'s masterpiece debut Ready To Die, and Stance sock company teamed up with hip-hop elite and friends of Biggie to celebrate the occasion.

On Thursday (Sept. 12) evening, Stance hosted a party at Nas' chicken and waffles restaurant Sweet Chick in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Guests were served cocktails and food themed after Biggie's lyrics (i.e. "escargot, my car go" and "a t-bone steak, cheese eggs"), while enjoying music spun by Statik Selektah, who unveiled a Jadakiss verse over Biggie's "Mo Money Mo Problems" that he says was from the song's original sessions. Attendees of the party included DJ Clark Kent, CJ Fly and Termanology, along with performances by Junior M.A.F.I.A. member Lil Cease and Tek of Smif-N-Wessun.

The evening also revealed a Stance and Sweet Chick "Sweet Chick Down To My Socks" collaborative sock, with a design similar to Biggie's beloved Coogi sweaters. The sock will be sold exclusively at Sweet Chick locations and online for $16.